If your prescription is out of refills your new pharmacy can contact the doctor on your behalf to request a new prescription. Please reach out to your doctor’s office since you might be out of refills for reasons that your pharmacist won’t be able to resolve. For example, your doctor might need you to schedule a follow-up appointment or get blood work, or maybe, you no longer need that medication.
Some prescriptions can only be transferred once. According to the Controlled Substance Act (Title 21 Chapter II Part 1306 Controlled Substances Listed in Schedules III, IV, and V § 1306.25), pharmacists may “transfer original prescription information for schedules III, IV, and V controlled substances to another DEA registered pharmacy for the purpose of refill dispensing between pharmacies, on a one-time basis only.” Schedule III, IV, and V medications are controlled substances and can only be transferred one time, no matter how many refills you have left. After transferring them once, you’ll need a new prescription from your doctor to switch pharmacies again. Some common examples of these types of medications include Ambien (zolpidem), Tylenol with codeine (acetaminophen/codeine), testosterone, Ultram (tramadol) and Xanax (alprazolam). Please note, however, that transfers between pharmacies that share a real-time, online database may transfer up to the maximum refills permitted by law and the prescriber's authorization.
Some prescriptions can’t be transferred. Schedule II controlled substance medications cannot be transferred—at all. They also aren’t eligible for refills; your doctor will need to give you a new prescription every time you fill. Some common examples include Adderall (amphetamine salt combo), Concerta (methylphenidate ER), Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen), Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) and Oxycontin (oxycodone ER).
